by Martha Carr
“I’ll get you the name of the director at the hospital.”
“No need, we already have it. I took the initiative to start the paperwork before you came in the door. It was going to be my bargaining chip but you made things easy for both of us. I’ll have your mother out of the psychiatric hospital by the morning at the latest, free and clear. You’ll start on Monday. We can have someone speak to your Captain Napora.”
“There’s one other matter. It won’t be quite as easy,” Leira added, pulling out her phone. It was an idea so big, she didn’t share it with Correk so he couldn’t talk her out of it. The general was about to find out what determined really looked like. “I’m texting you a file. It’s a carefully curated list of other magical beings that are being held in mental hospitals as well, all over the country. They’ll all need to be freed, given a clean slate. Then,” she nodded solemnly, “we’ll have a deal. You see, in my community, we don’t make the same divisions you make. All of them are my family. All of them need to be freed.”
Chapter Sixteen
There was only a three-quarter moon hanging over the hill country of Central Texas. Even that was covered in clouds, making the stars shine brightly above Lavender Rock. McKinley Park had been closed for hours, and the last stragglers had gotten down and driven home after the park ranger herded them all toward the exit.
He knew to always check the rock last. It was one of the first things he was told when he got the job.
The small group waited hours before hiking into the park, leaving their cars behind in a subdivision a mile up the road. They used only small penlights to guide their way, to ensure that no one would come and check because they saw a beam of light moving through the woods.
Even in the darkness, Lavender Rock was easy to see among the trees. The pale lavender color sparkled under the stars and the kemana glowed from deep within the rock. The six people who stopped at the base stared up, taking in the sight before them, single file, they started to climb, using the natural stairs the fragmented rock provided.
They were a faction of the new followers of Rhazdon, chosen to deliver the necklace to the new priest in Oriceran. The leaders of the movement who had planned and executed the theft were still in hiding from the Order. Their children and younger members were to finish the mission.
Once the group was on the flat shelf at the top they gathered in a circle and the leader, a half-Light Elf, pulled off his backpack, searching for a plastic container of blue crystals.
“Show me the crystals you have left. You couldn’t have used them all. Don’t hold back any of them. It’ll take every last one for us to get a message across the veil. Even here.” As he spoke, they could see that his tongue was still a sparkling blue, but the color was fading and with it, the energy they had gathered into themselves from the last ritual.
“I used some to pass an exam. Just… just a couple,” said a nervous female who was part Wood Elf. She pulled out an HEB plastic grocery bag and went to the center of the circle, pouring out the contents.
“That’s alright Rachel. I told you we could use some of them. We all have needs. We’ve been waiting so long for this. I just asked you to try and be conservative. You’re fine.”
“Why can’t we use the necklace to send a message? It has more than enough power,” said a brash, spirited young man, who was part Atlantean, with a little gnome mixed in to temper his personality. It wasn’t helping much.
The leader stood up and walked to the center, adding his pile of crystals to the girl’s. “You just explained why we can’t do that. It’s far more powerful than anything else we’ve ever seen. We’d be more likely to blow ourselves up and drill a hole right through Lavender Rock than get a message to our redeemer in Oriceran. We’ve been tasked with getting the necklace, not using the necklace.” He turned to the rest of the group. “Now, pony up. We don’t know how long we have up here.”
One by one they stood up and went to the center of the circle pouring out blue crystals.
A young man with spiky purple hair and some Arpak blood opened his hand to let out the five crystals he still possessed. “Sorry,” he said, sheepishly. “Had a rager. Things got out of hand.”
Once the remaining crystals were gathered, everyone joined hands, forming a tight circle around them.
“Now, focus. Let the energy flow through you. No resistance.”
“Dude, don’t say that. Now, that’s all I can think about,” said the part-Arpak. The girl next to him slapped the back of his head and took his hand again. “Think about that instead,” she snapped.
They closed their eyes and gradually, the crystals began to glow.
“Focus,” commanded the half Light Elf.
The crystals turned to a blue metallic liquid yet again, droplets racing around until they came together as a pool, turning into a window, rising into the air, and giving a glimpse to the other side. To Oriceran.
On the other side stood an old gnome in a cloak with the hood up, his face hidden in the shadows.
“Did you get it?” he demanded. “Show it to me. Prove it!”
The leader hesitated, not sure if he should break the circle.
“Prove it! Now! I will hold it open from here. Do it quickly!”
The half-Light Elf let go and grabbed his backpack, digging quickly through the contents, berating himself for not having it ready. “There it is,” he said, relieved. He held up the heavy gold chain and let the diamond-shaped crystal dangle.
“Closer,” the gnome demanded.
The man stepped closer to the small opening, peering into the darkness, wanting a glimpse of a world he had never seen before. It was hard to see anything but a large, stone arch. He held the necklace up closer and was about to shine his penlight on it when the gnome reached through the portal and grabbed the necklace, snatching it from his hand.
The startled man stepped back, not sure what to do next. “What?”
“You’ve done well,” said the gnome, smiling as he looked at the artifact in his hands. “You have taken us so much closer, and we will rise again.”
The half-Light Elf felt a sense of relief flood him. He opened his mouth to ask, what next, but the portal zipped shut without warning. The group was left standing on Lavender Rock in the middle of the night with no idea of a plan.
“That was harsh.”
“We should get going.”
“Yeah, I have an exam tomorrow.”
“My mom’s expecting me home soon. You do not want to leave her waiting for news.”
“Fine,” said the young leader. “I suppose we did what we came here to do,” he added sullenly.
“It’s not our last mission, Jake,” Rachel said, putting on her backpack. “This is just the beginning. It was a success. That’s a good thing. The rise of Rhazdon’s message. We were a part of the beginning!”
“I’m here to see Detective Berens? I have some information for her about a case?” Everything the pretty young blonde woman said sounded more like a question than a statement. “No, I can only tell her?”
The desk sergeant tried arguing with her. He was used to coaxing at least the basics from people before they got to go any further. Too many crackpots showed up at his desk. But after a few minutes he admitted defeat and called Leira.
“Who should I say is here?” he asked, looking up at the determined woman.
“Tell her my name is Katie Toler? I’m a friend of the Griffins? She should be expecting me?”
“Hello Detective? This is Sergeant Williams? Dammit, now she has me doing it. There’s a Katie Toler to see you. Said to tell you she’s a friend of the Griffins.”
Katie mouthed the name along with him to make sure he got it right, giving him a big, toothy smile when he did. He scowled back.
“Says you’re expecting her. Great, happy to send her back as soon as you come get her. I’m not an escort service. No unescorted civilians, Detective.” He hung up the phone and leaned out of the window to point to the plastic cha
irs against the back wall. “She’ll be right out. Till then, you can have a seat. Soda machine’s right there, too.”
“Thank you?”
The sergeant stared at her for a second, waiting to see if there was sarcasm involved. He hated sarcasm. But she smiled and turned to the seats.
“Millennials. Not one good brain between them.” He went back to his laptop, monitoring the police calls.
“Ms. Toler?” Leira looked at the young woman waiting patiently.
The sergeant grumbled, “Not you too,” from his perch but didn’t say anything else. Leira looked at the window and back at Katie Toler but Katie wasn’t giving anything away.
“Would you follow me?”
“Oh, for the love of Pete,” the sergeant exclaimed. A passing detective asked Leira, “What’s that all about?”
“No idea,” she replied, leading the way back to her desk. She knew what Katie meant when she said she was a friend of the Griffins. They got to her desk in the mostly empty room and Leira pulled the extra chair closer, patting the seat. Katie carefully sat down, still smiling and perched herself on the front, sitting up stick straight.
“You’re a friend of the Griffins. Why are you looking for me? I’m not a witch,” Leira whispered. It felt like everyone could hear them, but when she looked around no one was paying any attention.
“I’ve been retained by them as a kind of consultant.” Katie put her hand by her mouth and whispered, “Special Agent is the title they gave me.”
Why do people do that? thought Leira.
She patted Leira’s arm. “My first assignment was to keep tabs on you and help out when I could. Boy, you do not make that easy! Levitating at a party,” she continued in a low voice. “That took a bit of doing and even some old school cashola to get the larger magical community to look the other way. Some I just outright, you know, never was…” She made a face, rolling her eyes. “Don’t like to do that to your own kind but some gossips, you know.”
Leira rested her chin in her hand and her elbow on her desk and leaned in toward Katie. “I don’t need a babysitter. You can stand down.” Her face was hard.
“I’m not a babysitter. More like a guardian angel, and no. I don’t take orders from you. I’m here in the background for the long haul.” She made little circles with her finger, still smiling that smile that was starting to get on Leira’s nerves.
“Is there any way I can make you go away?” A regular bitch.
Katie took off her glasses and leaned as close as she could to Leira, relaxing just enough that pupils of her eyes turned into slits, mesmerizing Leira.
Leira was drawn into them and in her mind she could see Katie transform, her hair becoming tentacles. Katie blinked, ending the connection as her pupils rounded.
“Not even a small one,” she whispered back. “I can be just as determined as the gossip says you are. Two of a kind. Well, sort of. My people actually originated here on Earth. The only aboriginal magical people that did. Your kind wiped them out.” She sat back, the smile still in place. “Ancient history, of course. Neither one of us was there. But for now, you can either have me find out what you’re up to the hard way, meaning I dig into your business. Or you can see me as an asset and clue me in once in a while. Your choice.”
Katie stood up, putting out her hand, the constant question back in her voice. “So nice to meet you? Everyone was right? I hope to see you at the next potluck?” With that she turned and headed for the exit, not waiting for the required escort. No one stopped her and Leira didn’t bother to follow. Not so regular after all, but still a bitch.
Chapter Seventeen
Leira was trying to make sense of what just happened. The vision she saw was of a species she had never seen before but remembered all too well how Correk had described them. A very determined race of people. Well, at least she had that in common with her.
That is one formidable woman. I suppose I should be glad she’s on my side.
Captain Napora opened his door and motioned to Leira to come to his office without saying a word. He didn’t look very happy. She got up and made her way through the desks, working out in her head what she could say to him.
“You finally messed something up, huh?” A detective leaned back in his chair, satisfied.
“Whatever.” Even though Leira knew she wasn’t in trouble, at least not technically, she wasn’t looking forward to facing the Captain. He was responsible for giving her a chance and helping her become a homicide detective.
She wasn’t even sure what excuse the General had given the Captain. The truth wasn’t an option.
“Captain,” she said, knocking gently on the frame of the door.
He gave a small wave, his lips pressed firmly together into a straight line. He pointed to the chair in front of his desk and came around to shut the door before sitting on the edge of his desk right in front of her. He started to speak more than once, stopping himself, and trying again.
Finally, he put his hands on his hips and looked her square in the eye. “This is not a surprise at all. Of course the Feds noticed you. Twenty-five years old and already going to be working on terrorist cases! I’m so damn proud I could bust! Come here, can I hug you? Maybe not. How about a handshake, no, let’s go for the hug.” He enveloped her in a hug, surprising her, giving her a hearty slap on the back.
Terrorism, okay, not too far off the truth. Well played, General.
“I…uh…I… thank you. Sir, it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve under you. I hope I’ve contributed in some way to the team.”
The Captain sat back down on the edge of his desk, a smile on his face. “You’ve been a pain in my ass of the first order. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. You are relentless, Berens, which is why I know you’re gonna tear it up for the Feds. I understand they’re stationing you here. Still keeping an eye on Austin. Who knows, maybe we’ll still get to work together from time to time. You’ll still need us locals.”
“Always, sir,” she said, doing her best not to choke up.
“You told Hagan, yet?”
“He’s my next stop. Today’s his day off. I’m meeting him for a drink later.”
“He’s not going to be surprised either. He won’t like losing you as his partner but these things happen. You get a good one and they’re young and the world comes calling!”
Two worlds, sometimes.
“Okay, well, they asked if they could have you right away, and just like the Feds they went over my head before they even asked so your last day is coming up this week! Maybe we can throw you a little party or at least meet for drinks.”
“Sounds good, sir. I’d like that.”
“Think of us as family, Berens. You can always come back if you need to.” He laughed and waved at her. “That’ll never happen. You’re on your way to the top. Go on, get out of here. Start closing out your cases and hand them off. So proud of you.”
Leira walked out of his office feeling like she was just starting to see what she’d had all along. So much family all around me. I was never alone.
Correk was standing in the middle of Leira’s living room, trying to find the right words.
“You have to go back to recharge. I get it, I’ll be fine,” said Leira. “I took care of myself for years without a lot of assistance from anyone, you know. This whole, it takes a village to train a detective to just be herself is fairly new to me. Besides, with the way time works between the two worlds, you’ll be back before I’ve managed to sit down on the couch.”
“Not quite that fast, but right, of course.” He struggled to find the right words. “I know you can take care of yourself, probably better than anyone else on this planet. The powers you possess, to say nothing of a sidearm.”
“Then go! Let me get a little peace before you’re back with a thousand new stories!”
“I wanted to say, I’m proud of you.” He nodded firmly. “Yes, there it is. You’ve faced up to having the way you see even the most basic of th
ings flipped upside down, and didn’t back down once.”
“Yeah, didn’t run away, break a heel, wait for someone to rescue me.”
“It’s not a small thing. Every being has to have a few things they can take for granted in order to get through a day. The two moons will be there in the sky, a set of stairs will appear when I say the right words, the plants will sway and grow whenever they hear music…”
“Not what I’d have said, but I see where you’re going.”
“Magic introduces a truth that if you haven’t known about it since birth can be hard to handle. Anything is possible.”
“There are still rules. Someday I want to learn the basics of them.”
“Always, and then someone comes along who’s just a little more clever, like yourself or powerful or evil and they find a way to break those rules, and we get reminded. Anything is possible. But you didn’t back up once. You ran toward all of it.” He reached out to hug her, and gave her a pat on the back instead.
Leira raised an eyebrow and gave him a crooked smile. “We’ll have to work on your social skills when you get back. I take it Light Elves aren’t big huggers. Felt like you were helping me shake something loose. That explains a lot about me, too. Go, say hello to the King and Queen for me. Bring me back a souvenir. A t-shirt or a bobblehead. Or a postcard where all of the things in it actually move and can wave at you.”
Correk was already conjuring a bright fireball in his hands, using the last of the energy he had held in reserve so he’d still be able to open a portal. “They would all fall out before I was halfway through the portal. All you’d get would be a blank piece of paper.”
“Fine. Then just get back here safely.”
The air in the middle of the room shimmered and grew wavy as an opening appeared. The red velvet chair disappeared and Leira found herself looking at the green forest of Oriceran. She looked up at him, still smiling but her expression changed and her eyes grew wider. “Wait!” she yelled. “Your ears!”
